Spotlight On: Carol Motycka, Associate Dean, University of Florida College of Pharmacy – Jacksonville Campus
Key points:
- • Jacksonville’s healthcare growth is creating new opportunities for pharmacy students and graduates.
- • AI and interprofessional training are reshaping how future pharmacists learn and practice.
- • Pharmacists are taking on broader clinical roles as primary care shortages grow.
August 2026 — Invest: spoke with Carol Motycka, associate dean of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, about the Jacksonville campus’ growth, the expanding role of pharmacists, and the ways AI and interprofessional education are reshaping healthcare training. Motycka discussed the opportunities created by UF’s new campus presence, the region’s growing healthcare sector, and the need to prepare students for broader clinical responsibilities. “If you’re going to be working together, you need to train together,” said Motycka.
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Can you provide an overview of the recent progress of the Jacksonville campus?
The Jacksonville campus opened in 2002, and I have been part of it since the beginning. I started as the director and now serve as associate dean and campus dean.
Jacksonville is the smallest of the UF College of Pharmacy’s three campuses, with approximately 50 students per class. Because the Doctor of Pharmacy program is a four-year program, we have about 200 pharmacy students on campus each year.
One of the developments we are most excited about is UF’s new campus in Jacksonville. I have been working closely on where the College of Pharmacy will fit, including our needs for simulation and laboratory space. Our students are excited about having a more student-centered environment with a stronger UF identity while continuing our longstanding relationship with UF Health.
We will begin using some of the new space this fall, including the 801 Bay Street building for exams and other activities. I have been with UF for 24 years, and it has been rewarding to see the campus grow and evolve.
How does the college’s expansion reflect the growing role of healthcare and life sciences in Northeast Florida?
It is exciting to see how the College of Pharmacy has grown, including our position as the number four ranked pharmacy college in the United States. Jacksonville already has a significant concentration of hospitals and healthcare providers, and the region continues to strengthen its position as a destination for healthcare.
That creates important opportunities for our students. We have outstanding graduates who become part of the local healthcare system, and students have access to a wide range of residency and career opportunities. UF Health Jacksonville, Mayo Clinic, Baptist Health, and other facilities give them many options after graduation.
UF Health South is also expected to open, creating additional opportunities for students while expanding access to care along Jacksonville’s southern border and into northern St. Johns County.
How are AI and other emerging technologies shaping pharmacy education?
UF is engaged with AI in both healthcare and education. We are excited here in Jacksonville about the upcoming UF Health Science Center – Jacksonville (UFHSCJ) AI Scholar Days, taking place September 16–17, 2026, that will be open to practitioners, students and faculty. We are continuing to integrate AI into students’ education and prepare them to use it as future healthcare providers.
There are immeasurable opportunities in this area. The new campus is also expected to support AI-driven programs for a broader range of learners. These may include not only traditional degree programs but also certificates for people who have already graduated and want to build new skills.
Some programs may be offered online, while others may combine virtual instruction with minimal in-person components. This creates opportunities for healthcare professionals who want to advance their careers as well as people from other fields who may want to move into healthcare or the pharmaceutical industry.
For example, someone with a business degree may want to enter the medical field but find it difficult to get a foot in the door. A focused certificate could demonstrate relevant knowledge and help that person pursue opportunities such as pharmaceutical sales or other roles within the industry.
Why is interprofessional education so important for pharmacy students?
Interprofessional education is a major part of our accreditation, but we also recognize its importance beyond the requirement. At UF Health Jacksonville, we use the Center for Simulation Education and Safety Research to bring pharmacy, medical, physician assistant, and nursing students together.
Students work through medication management scenarios in a four-hour simulation program. It opens their eyes to the fact that we have to work side by side to treat patients effectively. Students consistently describe it as one of their favorite experiences.
The simulation space planned for the new campus should allow us to expand this type of training. If you’re going to be working together, you need to train together to some degree.
We also have a year-long course called Putting Families First. Pharmacy, medical, and nursing students work in small groups and are assigned a family. Together, they develop a healthcare project that is meaningful for that family while learning how to communicate with patients and understand one another’s professional roles.
What are the most significant challenges facing the pharmacy profession?
There is a major shortage of primary care physicians. Nurse practitioners and physician associates have helped fill part of that gap, and pharmacists are increasingly doing the same.
Many people do not realize how much the pharmacist’s role has changed in community settings. Pharmacists can now provide test-and-treat services. A patient may be tested for influenza at a pharmacy and receive medication without waiting for a physician appointment, which is important when treatment is time-sensitive.
Pharmacists are also becoming more involved in chronic disease management. They may help manage anticoagulation therapy, test a patient’s International Normalized Ratio (clotting time), and adjust warfarin under the appropriate protocols. These are examples of how pharmacists can support patients in community pharmacies and clinics while helping address limited access to primary care.
There is also a shortage of community pharmacists, so we need more graduates prepared to step into these roles. The work can save patients time and money while making healthcare delivery more efficient and affordable.
How are career opportunities for pharmacy graduates changing?
In recent years, we have seen more graduates express interest in working in the pharmaceutical industry. We are also seeing continued growth in roles focused on chronic disease management and direct patient care.
The profession has moved beyond a traditional emphasis on dispensing. Pharmacy technicians remain essential, but pharmacists are medication experts who have spent four years studying how medications work. Their value increasingly comes from applying that knowledge directly with patients.
Pharmacists can review a patient’s full medication profile, explain how medications should be used, and identify drugs that may no longer be necessary. Sometimes a medication is added to treat the side effect of another medication, so pharmacist involvement can help reduce excessive medication use.
That benefits the healthcare system by controlling costs, but it also helps patients live better lives. Our curriculum continues to prepare students for these more clinical, patient-centered responsibilities.
What are the college’s priorities as Jacksonville’s population and healthcare sector continue to grow?
Jacksonville is experiencing significant population growth, which is increasing demand for healthcare professionals. We are also seeing more people travel to the region specifically for healthcare, in addition to seasonal residents and visitors.
Students need to be prepared to care for patients they may see only once. In community pharmacy, patients do not always stay with one provider, so pharmacists may have only a few minutes to gather as much information as possible and understand the patient’s situation.
AI has made information more accessible, but people sometimes think they understand more than they do. Pharmacists can help patients interpret what they have read, distinguish between a minor concern and a serious issue, and make informed decisions.
Pharmacists also play an important role in medication adherence. A physician can create an excellent treatment plan, but that plan only works if the patient fills the prescription and takes the medication correctly. Pharmacists can explain why the treatment matters, address concerns, and encourage patients to follow through.
Want more? Read the Invest: Jacksonville report.
